Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



l B. P. CLARK.'

APPARATUS FORRAISING SUNKEN YESSBLS. f 1.211.101.1101: r1LB15.MA. 1s, 1909.-

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

:imams-81111111: 2.

motors 8 which are adapted to be submergedheads or winding devices 7 on Aelectric with the cables or chains and supplied with power from above. When the frames C are in a suitable `position adjacent the vessel the power is turned on in the-electric magnets 1 through 'connections with the scowsB above, and th magnets attach themselves to the `hull of the vessel, the frames C being securely positioned in contact therewith. Any slack of the cables or chains 6 is then taken up and the same are drawn taut around thehull by means of the motors 8; 'to permit of A this operation-the cables are so secured to the frames C that they may run freely through their bearings thereon. This connection between the cables or chains and the frames and magnets is preferably by means of rings-29 secured on the frames and mag? nets through which the cables pass, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the form of apparatus shown the chains or cables are tightened by being wound upon winch heads 7, but they may be tightened if 'desired by securing them to the winch heads or to themotor shafts in such a manner that'the chains or cables are merely twisted or turned and the slack thus taken up. Should the hull of the vessel be rounded this tightening of thev cables or chains will prevent the same from slipping up over the bulge of the vessel when a lifting strain is brought upon the cables. After beiner tightened the chainsor cables are preferarbly clamped as will hereafter be described.

The frames, magnets and cables being in place, the lifting operation may be commenced eitherfby ropes or chains attached to the magnets or to thecables or both, and drawn up from above, but it is a well known fact that when a magnet is attached to a surface should a side pull be exerted on the.

Second,- by the roughening or forming with teeth of the sides 4 ofthe frames in contact with the vessel.

Third, secured to said sides 4 of the frames and to. the cross bars 5 joining the same may be placed a plurality of cupshaped members or suckers 9; the mouths of these suckers are preferably closed by a covering or diaphragm which will break when the suckers are forced against the side of the vessel liberating -a portion of theiair contamed therein and causing the suckers to adhere. or cling to the side of. the vessel; or vthe suckers may be operated by connecting4 them by pipe or tube-10 with a pump 11 above Aandv exhausting the water A:tromthe suckers after they are in position a ainst the vessel. .'In Fig. 6 is shown in detai a sucker 9 of leather, rubber or other suitable mate rial the mouth of which is vclosed by a cover or diaphragm 12 preferably of rubber, con, Avex to the sucker, and adapted toI break. t will.

when forced "against the ,vesseL readily be seen thatas each magnetisI energized the frame to which it is attached and the suckers carried by the frame are brought into position against the side of the vessel, as shown in Fig. 3, and the forcing of the suckers 'against the side of the vessel by ac- 'tion of the magnet and also by reason of the tightening of the chains or cables around the vessel, serves to break the sucker coverings or diaphragms, releasing a portion of the air contained therein, the suckers thereupon clinging to the side of the vessel. This method of positioning the suckers by the u of a magnet has -been found to be prefera e.

. Fourth, the hoisting rope or chain 13 is -securedat the outer lower angle of the frame C as denoted by a.' and it will readily be seen 'that whena pull is exerted from above on the rope 13, the frame C willA form a lever, the fulcrum of which is at the upper angle at'a point denoted y, the pull of the magnet on the vessel being thus exerted in a direction perpendicular thereto at point z and there being no side pull tocause the magnet. to slip or slide.

As a further lmeans of lifting the sunken vessel ropes or chains may be fastened directly to the cables or chains 6 and operated from above, or chain pulleys 14 formed with Iteeth -or other suitable means for engaging with the chains maybe secured thereto and caissons 15 drawn down by means of chains 16, the pulleys 14 being checked against operation to permit the caissons to riseto the surface by means of a pawl 4and ratchet 17 or other suitable'means.l The caissons 15 may be lowered filled with 'compressed air, or may be lowered filled with water 'and the water pumped out or forced out by compressed air from above through pipe or tub'e 18; in the latter case it Vis preferable to provide the caissons with a-valve 19 which is adjusted to retain thea'ir in the caisson under a certain pressure of water and in such case when the caisson is lowered to any great depth and bein .supplied with compressed air to withstan the water ressure at such depth is then raised, the va ve will operate as the pressure of the water is Adecreased and lower the pressure of the air within the caisson to pre'- vent its being'burst from such pressure.

To more evenly distribute the strain over the vessel which is being ra1sed,it is preferable -chains or cables .6 adjacent the tightening that beams 20 of wood or metal be inserted under the cables G, the side in contact with the vessel being rougliened or. formed with vteeth to prevent slipping.

In Fig. .7 's shown a preferred formi. of

clamping' device for securing each of' the 'chains or cables after it has beentlghtened around the vessel. Around each ofthe motor 8 isplaced a' clani` formed ofsidc `arms 21 pivot'ed at 22 an provided at the top with lugsvor'ears 23 and 24 through which is passed a threaded bolt 25; at oney bolt. to clamp the chain. the boltl being' prevented l' rom tinning in a,A direction to loosen the .-clamp by means o'tf aiatcl'iet: on. the bolt and pawl 2S on lng 225,

It will readily be seen that-thel number of frames, magi'iets, chains or eablesat taehed to the frames and surioinn'ling thc \v'e,ssel, litting ropes or chains, i'.aissons. ete.. may lie-as.

desired and that two or more sets ot'4 trames, .magnetsand chains, ont` rn plaee aliovc the other` may be used as desired.`

The operation ot" my improvyd apparatus` will be readily understood from the .foregoing description tliereotI and alfter the vessel has been raised clear of the bottom on which or in which it has been-i'e.st.ing`r chains may be passed under the vessel-if desired to turther assist in raising the same. v i

In connection willi wooden vessels no use could be inadc of i'nagnets designed toattach themselves to the hull ot the vessel lint i chains, ctc., may be placed around the vessel,

tightened and used iii raisingwooden -vessels in suoli instances wliere the weightof the vessel, the depth to which it is su'nk or other circumstances do not render this limited use of my invention impossible. v A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letlters Patent of the United 'States is:-

l. An apparatus for raising a. sunken vessel, comprising a chain or cable adapted to be lowered -around the. vessel, and means for positioning,r the chain or cable. laround and adjacent. to the vessel comprising-:ui "electrical magnet secured to saidchain or cable. and means for energizing the magnet when in a lowered position.

2. An apparatus for raising a. sunken vessel, comprising a supporting frame, a cable secured to the frame adapted to be lowered around the slinken vessel, 'and means for positioning tliechain or cable around and adjacent to the vessel, comprising an electrical n'iagnet carried by 'said frame, and

means .for energizing the magnet when in its lowered position.

3. An apparatus for raising a sunken ves- Seh comprising achain-or cable .adapted to be lowered around the vessel, and means for positioning the chain or cable around and adjacent to the iiessel'coinprising an .elec` trical magnet secured to said chain or cable, means for energizing said magnet when in` its lowered position, and means liortighten-V ing said c haiii or cable around vthe vessel.

4. An apparatus for raising a sunken vessel, comprising a frame, an electrical magnet mounted on" said frame adjacent the lower side-thereof and adapted to be lowered adjacent the vessel', means for.' energizing the magnet. when lowered to cause it to attach itself to the vessel, one side of the fra'me being adapted to rest against t'lie'vessehand means for exerting a lifting pull on the,y

maenet', the upper portion ot the Iside of said frame which is against; the vessel'being adapted to act as a. Afnlcrum to cause the .pull of the magnet to be perpendicular to the "vessel. l

5. An apparatus for raising La. sunken vessel, comprising a triangular frame, an electrical magnet mounted onthe lowerside. of said fraaie, and adapted to be lowered into posit-ion adjacent the vessel,l and means for.

energizing the magnet when in its loweredposition, said magnet `being substantially ,perpendicular to the vessel, and an upright A i side ot said-frame heilig adapted to rest against the vessel.

o. Anapparatus for raising a sunken vessel, 'comprising a supporting member adapted to be lowered iii position adjacent the sunken vessel, means for positioning Said member against the vessel when lowered, and suckers or suction cups secured to themember and adapted to' be attached to the vessel when the member is in position.

-7. An apparatus for raising a sunken ves-u sel, comprising a supporting memberadapted to be lowered into position adjacent the sunken vessel, means for positioning said inei'nber against the vessel when lowered and4 suckers or suction cups secured t0 said meniber, the mouth ot eaclrsuckerbeiiig pro- V vided with a covering adapted to be broken u pon contact with the..ves sel.

8. An `apparatus for raising a sunken ves seL'eomprising a plurality of cables adapted to be. lowered in position around the Sunken vessel, and means foi-'positioningtheA cables around-and adjacent to the' vessel coinprising a plurality of magnets carried by said cables, ineans for energizing `theinagnets when intheir lowered position, and means for tightening the 'cables around the vessel.

t). An apparat ns for raising a sunken ves-l sel. comprising a plurality of cables adapted to bc lowered in position around the sunken sel, comprising a cable adapted to b'e lowcred 1n position around the vessel, means for tightening the cable when in position aroun the vessel, and means for clamping the cable when tightened, said last-mentioned means comprising a clamp and an 'electrical motor carried by said clamp ada ted to operate to'elose the clamp on the cab e.

11. An apparatus for raising'a sunken vessel comprising a chain .or cable adapted to be lowered around` the vessel, an electrical magnet secured to the chain or cable, means for ener izing the magnet to cause it to attach itsell1 to the side of the vessel, means for exerting a lifting pull on' the chain or cable andJ magnet .and means for causing the pull of tlie magnet to be in a line substantially perpendicular to the side of the vessel to which the magnet is attached, said last mentioned means compris- 10. An apparatus for raising a sunken ves.

ing a supporting member upon which the magnet lis mounted, adapted to rest against the side of the vessel.

.12. An apparatus for rai'sing a sunken vessel, comprising a sucker adapted to be lowered adjacent the side' of the Vessel, and means for securing the sucker in position against the vessel, said means comprising a magnet adapted to be llowered with the sucker.

13. An .apparatus for raising a, sunken vessel, comprising a sucker adapted to be lowered adjacent the side of the vessel, means for securing the sucker in position against the vessel, said means comprising. a magnet adapted to be lowered with the sucker, and means adapted to operate to cause the sucker. to adhere to the vessel when in position against the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. A

BAINBR'IDGE PERCY CLARK.

WVitnesse's:

CLARK FosDIcK, FRANK PRESTON. 

